Floor scrubbing machine



Aug. 7, 1962 Filed May 16, 1961 G. o. SPRANG 3,047,894

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l2 7 INVENTOR.

660' 00.5 rang WMa M ATTORNEYS 1962 G. C(SPRANG 3,047,894

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Geo e/ 0.8 I'm 9 m, W? M;

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,647,894 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 3,047,894 FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHTNE George 0. sprang, near Lalreville, Ohio Fiied May 16, 1961, Ser. No. 110,459 6 Uaims. (CI. 1599) The invention relates to machines for scrubbing floors and more particularly to the type of apparatus which may be easily propelled over a floor, and which is provided with an endless belt having an absorbent surface by means of which the floor may be first scrubbed and then wiped substantially dry.

It is known that floor scrubbing machines of this general type have been produced, but in all such machines it is either necessary that the endless belt pass continuously through the water or other cleaning liquid in the tank of the machine, or that more or less complicated mechanism be provided for adjusting the belt for passing it either through or above the water in the tank, with compensating means including a plurality of relatively movable rollers for holding the belt taut in all adjusted positions.

Also, it is known that such floor scrubbing machines have been provided with means for applying water by gravity to the belt, but it is not known that any such machines have been provided with means for spraying water under pressure upon the belt so as to penetrate the same.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a floor scrubbing machine having advantages and improvements over such scrubbing machines as have been heretofore produced.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a floor scrubbing machine of the character referred to comprising a water tank with a single large roller journalled at each end of the tank and an endless belt with a waterabsorbent surface located around the rollers with means causing a portion of the belt to travel through the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubbing apparatus ofthis character having a vertically movable float device within the tank by means of which the liquid level in the tank may be raised into the path of the belt as it passes therethrough, or lowered below the belt as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a floor scrubbing apparatus having means for spraying clean water under pressure upon the belt, and means for controlling the operation of the water-spraying means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a floor scrubbing apparatus of the character referred to in which the belt is provided with spaced longitudinal ribs and the rollers are provided with corresponding peripheral grooves to receive the ribs upon the belt in order to prevent the belt from moving laterally relative to the rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a floor scrubbing apparatus having a flat plate upon its lower side with lonigtudinal grooves to slidably receive the longitudinal ribs on the belt, for holding the lower flight of the belt in scrubbing or wiping contact with the floor.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a floor scrubbing apparatus having an operating handle and a pair of dolly wheels mounted thereon, whereby the apparatus may be tilted to move the belt out of contact with the floor and support the entire apparatus upon the dolly wheels for transporting across the floor when not in operation.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, may be attained, the above described difficulties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrangement and combinations, subcombinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a floor scrubbing apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional View through the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-5, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation through a portion of one of the rollers and the adjacent portion of the belt taken as on the line 44, FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through a modified form of scrubbing belt provided with bristles.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout, the improved floor scrubbing apparatus comprises a frame, indicated generally at 1. This frame comprises the side plates 2, connected at points spaced from each end by the transverse walls 3, which may be arcuate as shown in FIG. 2, and bottom wall 4.

A relatively large diameter roller 5 is journalled in each end of the frame 1, beyond the corresponding transverse wall 3. The rollers 5, as well as the frame 1, may be formed of aluminum or other suitable lightweight, rust-resistant material. For the purpose of substantially reducing the weight of the apparatus, the rollers 5 may be hollow as best shown in FIG. 4.

An endless belt, indicated generally at 6, is located around the rollers 5, the lower flight thereof, as indicated at '7, being movable against the lower surface of the bottom wall 4, so as to hold the belt in contact with the floor.

The shafts or journal portions 8 of the rollers 5 are preferably journalled in sealed ball bearings, indicated generally at 9, mounted in the side plates 2 of the frame of the machine. The journal bearings of the rollers are thus protected against damage by moisture.

For the purpose of holding the belt in a straight path as it passes over the floor, means is provided for preventing lateral movement of the belt relative to the rollers. Thismeans is shown as comprising spaced, longitudinal ribs 10 formed upon the inner surface of the belt,

and corresponding peripheral grooves 11 are formed in the rollers 5 for receiving said ribs.

The belt is preferably formed of synthetic rubber, such as may be obtained under the trade name neoprene, or other suitable flexible material which will not be damaged by exposure to soaps or detergents. The outer surface 12 of the belt is formed of synthetic sponge rubber, plastic sponge, or other porous material which will not be attacked by soaps or detergents, and which is capable of absorbing about 10% to 40% water. This outer lamination 12 is preferably vulcanized to the inner lamination of the belt.

The bottom wall 4 is provided with longitudinal grooves 13 to slidably receive the longitudinal ribs 16 on the belt, and is so positioned that it will hold the lower flight 7 of the belt in contact with the floor, indicated at 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A tank or liquid receptacle 15 is formed by the side walls 2, partition walls 3 and bottom Wall 4, and the upper flight of the belt 6 is guided into the upper portion of the tank 15 by the roller 16. This roller is journalled at 17 in bearing members 18, vertically slidable in the guides 19 on the inner sides of the side plates 2.

For the purpose of adjusting the roller 16 so as to guide the upper central portion of the belt through the upper portion of the tank, and for holding the belt sufficiently taut, an adjusting screw is provided. This screw is threaded through a bracket 21 mounted upon the upper edge portion of the side plates 2. The lower end of the screw 2% is swiveled in a cross-bar 22, connected to the bearing members 18, and a hand wheel 23 is provided upon the upper end of the screw for manually operating the same.

For the purpose of raising or lowering the liquid level in the tank 15, into or below the path of the upper flight of the belt, a vertically adjustable float device 24 is provided. This float device is preferably hollow and may be formed of aluminum or other non-corrosive material.

When the float member 24 is in lowered position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2, it will displace a suflicient volume of liquid in the tank to raise the liquid level to the line indicated at L, so that the upper central portion of the belt will pass through the liquid in the tank.

But when the float member 24 is raised to the upper position, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, the liquid level in tank will drop below the belt, to the line indicated at L.

For the purpose of adjusting the float member 24 vertically within the tank 15, a spaced pair of rocker shafts 25 are journalled in the side plates 2 near opposite ends of the tank, at points just below the upper flight of the belt. A pair of rocker arms 26 is fixed upon each rocker shaft 25, the rocker arms having studs 27 upon their lower ends, slidably received in the guides 28 on opposite sides of the float member 24.

A lever 29 is fixed to one rocker shaft 25 and is pivo ally connected by link 30 with the lever 31 which is fixed to the other rocker shaft. A control link 32 is pivotally connected to the lever 29 and leads to a convenient point on the handle for the machine, where it may be held in adjusted position by any usual and well known means.

It will thus be seen that as the control link 32 is longitudinally moved in opposite directions, the two rocker shafts 25 will be rotated in unison to raise or lower the float member 24 as desired.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface of the float member 24 is shaped to conform to the contour of the upper central portion of the belt as it passes from the upper sides of the rollers 5 and beneath the hold-down roller 16.

A motor, indicated generally at 33, is mounted on a platform plate 34, supported upon the upper edges of the side plates 2, at the rear end of the machine. A double grooved V-pulley 35 is fixed on the motor shaft 36 and connected by V-belt 37 to the V-pulley 38 fixed upon the shaft or journal portion 8 of the rear roller 5, in order to drive the machine forwardly, or to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

F or the purpose of spraying clean water, or other liquid, upon the belt, as desired, a liquid tank 39 is mounted upon the top of the frame, and has the depending outlet pipe 40 connected to the transversely disposed spray pipe 41, having a multiplicity of small apertures or spray nozzles 42. A manually operable valve 43 is located in the pipe 40, between the liquid tank 39 and the spray pipe 41.

In order to maintain the liquid in tank 39 under pressure, an air compressor 44 may be mounted on the platform plate 34 and operated by the motor 33. For this purpose, a V-pulley 4-5 on the compressor shaft 46 is connected by V-belt 47 with the double-grooved V-pulley 35 on the motor shaft.

An air pipe 48 leads from the compressor 44 t0 the liquid pressure tank 39, and any usual and well known manually operable clutch (not shown) may be provided in connection with the compressor shaft 46 and pulley for controlling operation of the compressor.

A pair of wringer rolls 49 are provided for engaging the belt 6 at a point subsequent to the wetting of the belt either by passing it through the liquid in the tank or by spraying liquid thereon.

For the purpose of attaching a handle to the machine for guiding it upon the floor, a pair of rearwardly disposed brackets 5tl are rigidly attached to the rear end portion of the frame. Handle members 51 are pivotally connected to the brackets 5t} and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

Any usual and well known type of handle bars, such as are commonly used upon lawn mowers, may be provided upon the upper ends of the handle members 51. The handle may be held in adjusted position by means of a sector 53 connected to one of the handle members 51.

The sector 53 has a plurality of apertures 54- therein, adapted to selectively receive a pin 55 which may be inserted into a suitable aperture (not shown) in the corresponding bracket 50.

A pair of rubber tired dolly wheels 56 are journalled upon the brackets 50, as indicated at 57, and normallyheld in contact with the floor as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to transport the machine over the floor, when not in use, the machine may be tilted back to raise the belt out of contact with the floor and to hold only the wheels 55 in contact with the floor. The wheels 56 will thus support the machine as it is moved over the floor.

A drain cock 58 may be provided in the lower portion of one of the side plates 2 for draining the tank. A cleanout opening 59 may be formed in one of the side plates 2, adapted to be normally closed by a conventional screw plug 60.

In FIG. 5 is shown a modification of the belt, in which bristles at of nylon, or the like, may be substituted for the sponge outer surface '12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In the operation of the machine for scrubbing floors, water, to which soap or detergent may be added, is placed in the tank 15 to about the level indicated at L in FIG. 2, so that it is below the lowest point in the path of the upper flight of the endless belt.

The operating link 32 is then operated to lower the tfloat member 24 to the full line position shown in FIG. 2. The float member thus displaces a suflicient volume of liquid to raise the liquid level approximately to the level L in FIG. 2, so that the upper flight of the belt will pass through the liquid, constantly wetting the belt as the machine moves forward upon the floor.

The moistened portion of the belt will then pass through the wringer rolls 49, removing the desired amount of cleaning fluid from the belt, as the machine is moved over the floor, the lower flight of the belt, with cleaning fluid thereon, will be constantly moved to the left across the floor, the longitudinal ribs it) on the belt being guided through the grooves 13 in the bottom wall 4 which holds the lower flight of the belt in contact with the floor throughout substantially its entire length.

In order to wipe the floor substantially dry after it has been scrubbed, the float member 24 may be raised to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2, permitting the water level in the tank to drop back to the point L so that the belt will not pass through the cleaning fluid.

The belt will be passed between the wringer rolls 49, removing most of the moisture therefrom, and the substantially dry belt will wipe the floor dry. If it is desired at any time to apply clean water to the belt, the valve 4 3 may be opened and the clutch upon the pulley 45 operated to cause the compressor 44 to operate, admitting compressed air to the liquid tank 39 so as to cause the liquid to spray therefrom under pressure through the apertures or nozzles 42 in the pipe 41, spraying clean fluid upon the belt as it passes thereunder.

From the above it will be evident that a simple and eflicient floor scrubbing machine is provided in which the endless scrubbing belt passes over only one relatively large roller at each end of the machine, and in which the water level in the tank may be raised or lowered so that aaavgeaa the belt may pass through the liquid in the tank or above the level of the liquid, as desired.

It will also be obvious that means is provided for 0ptionally spraying clean fluid under pressure upon the belt in order to clean the same.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construc tion illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A floor scrubbing machine including a frame, a cleaning liquid tank in said frame, a roller journalled at each end of the frame, an endless belt located around said rollers, the bottom wall of the tank pressing the lower flight of the belt against the floor, means guiding the upper flight of the belt into the tank, a vertically movable float member in the tank for raising the liquid level to Wet the upper flight of the belt, and means for rotating one of said rollers for moving the machine over a ifloor.

2. A floor scrubbing machine including a frame, a cleaning liquid tank in said frame, a roller journalled at each end of the frame, an endless belt located around said rollers, the bottom wall of the tank pressing the lower flight of the belt against the floor, means guiding the upper flight of the belt into the tank, a vertically movable float member in the tank for raising the liquid level to wet the upper flight of the belt, and means for rotating one of said rollers for moving the machine over a floor, the belt having longitudinal ribs on its inner surface, and there being peripheral grooves in said rollers for receiving said ribs.

3. A floor scrubbing machine including a frame, a cleaning liquid tank in said frame, a roller journalled at each end of the frame, an endless belt located around said rollers, the bottom Wall of the tank pressing the lower flight of the belt against the floor, means guiding the upper flight of the belt into the tank, a vertically movable float member in the tank for raising the liquid level to wet the upper flight of the belt, and means for rotating one of said rollers for moving the machine over a floor, the belt having longitudinal ribs on its inner surface, there being peripheral grooves in said rollers for receiving said ribs, and there being longitudinal grooves in belt, an air compressor supported on the frame, and adischarge pipe from the air compressor connected to the liquid pressure tank.

5. A floor scrubbing machine including a frame, a cleaning liquid tank in said frame, a roller journalled at each end of the frame, an endless belt located around said rollers, the bottom wall of the tank pressing the lower flight of the belt against the floor, means guiding the upper flight of the belt into the tank, a liquid pressure tank supported above the tank, spray means connected to the pressure tank and located above the upper flight of the belt, an air compressor supported on the frame, a discharge pipe from the air compressor connected tothe liquid pressure tank, a motor on the frame, means operatively connecting the motor to one of said rollers, and means operatively connecting the motor to the compressor.

6. A floor scrubbing machine including a frame, a cleaning liquid tank in said frame, a roller journalled at each end of the frame, an endless belt located around said rollers, the bottom Wall of the tank pressing the "lower flight of the belt against the floor, means guiding the upper flight of the belt into the tank, a liquid pressure tank supported above the tank, spray means connected to the pressure tank and located above the upper flight of the belt, an air compressor supported on the frame, a discharge pipe from the air compressor connected to the liquid pressure tank, a motor on the frame, means operatively connecting the motor to one of said rollers, and means operatively connecting the motor to the compressor, means for disconnecting the compressor from the motor, and a valve between the pressure tank and said spray means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,153,686 Deegan Apr. 11, 1939 

